Passengers in Bihar Pune Special Train express frustration over delay of meals
By: Pune Pulse
November 30, 2023
Pune: A passenger experienced a difficult situation while travelling with his parents on a Bihar-Pune special train last week. The train was excessively delayed and did not have a pantry car, causing inconvenience to the passengers.
Despite ordering a pizza through the IRCTC app, he did not receive it due to the train’s prolonged delay. As per the information provided, passengers had to settle for subpar food options available at various stations due to the lack of related amenities on many long-distance trains. The quality of these food options was reportedly poor, and with the recent ban on LPG cylinders in trains, passengers are finding it increasingly difficult to procure proper meals.
To make matters worse, train delays only exacerbated the situation, leaving passengers to survive on biscuits during their journeys. In Pune, most trains now have LHB coaches, while some trains like the Azad Hind Express and Jhelum Express still have ICF coaches. In the latter, food is picked up from the base kitchens of IRCTC and stored, whereas, in LHB coaches, electrical ovens are used to prepare food. Another railway official mentioned that special trains do not have pantry services, and around 21 such trains operate during Diwali and Chhath festivals in Pune. The IRCTC has an e-catering service, and train-side vending facilities have also been introduced at stations.
However, many passengers, especially those from rural backgrounds, are not aware of these services. Another passenger shared his experience on the Azad Hind Express three months ago, expressing his struggle to obtain a simple bottle of water. He highlighted that the train was significantly delayed by 8 hours, and to his dismay, there were no water bottles available. Consequently, he had to disembark at a remote station to purchase one.
